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Woodrush  High  School  An  Academy  for  Students  Aged  11-­‐18  

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We are delighted that your son/daughter has chosen Woodrush Sixth Form as their place of study for their A-level/BTEC study. After five successful years with us we are really pleased that we are able to continue supporting your son/daughter towards further qualifications.

The following information is designed to give you a more informed view of the policies, procedures and practices of Woodrush Sixth Form. In this booklet you will find information on:

� The information and guidance we offer to students

� Advice on how you can help your son/daughter get organised for A-level and BTEC study

� An outline of our attendance policy

� News about our new Sixth Form Induction Programme

� Further enrichment opportunities for our students

� Our policy for continuing onto the second year of A-level/BTEC study

� Possible post-Sixth Form options for your son/daughter to start considering

� An update on our recent A-level results and the destinations of our former students

Your son/daughter is entering an incredibly challenging phase in their academic lives and we realise the importance of staff and parents working in partnership to achieve the best possible results for them.

Please take the opportunity tonight to talk to staff and ask them any questions you may have. Also, please do not hesitate to contact us at any time should you have any queries or concerns.

Once again, I would like to stress how happy we are that we have an opportunity to help support your son/daughter over the next two years towards further qualifications, and hopefully, a bright and successful future.

Mr M Sullivan – Head of Sixth Form

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Information – Guidance - Support ________

Ensuring that students feel fully supported during their time in the Sixth Form is of paramount important to us. We also offer a range of advice and guidance regarding our students’ possible destinations for when they leave the Sixth Form. The comprehensive range of support we offer includes:

� A designated Student Development Co-ordinator whose role it is to support students with University applications, careers advice and Higher Apprenticeship options. Mr Cooper will also hold one-on-one interviews with students to support them in their chosen pathway after the Sixth Form. He also holds a weekly drop in session that students can attend if they are in need of any support or advice.

� A Head of House for the Sixth Form who supports students with any pastoral issues and also monitors attendance. Ms Ashman also provides intervention support for students who need extra help with their studies.

� We monitor students closely via the completion of a three phase personal action plan. This involves students researching their options for when they leave the Sixth Form and completing a record of this research. This research is then reviewed by staff to help advise and support students on the best course of action.

� Information and Guidance workshops covering topics like ‘Employability’, ‘Higher Apprenticeships’, ‘University Applications’, ‘How to write a Personal Statement’ – etc.

� Organising trips and visits to University Open Days and Higher Education conventions. � Inviting guest speakers to talk to our students on various topics. Recently, we have had

guest speakers talk to our students about student finance, the National Citizenship Service and the gap year option of working abroad.

� An ‘Oxbridge/Russell Group’ programme to support students with their applications to some of the most prestigious Universities in the country.

� A full Sixth Form Induction Programme that consists of workshops designed to equip students with some of the fundamental skills required to successfully tackle Key Stage 5 study.

� A weekly study support group that meet to complete an hour of supervised study and to discuss with the Head of Sixth Form how they can be further supported with their studies.

In addition to all of the above, we also have dedicated and committed staff who adopt an ‘open door’ policy where all of our Sixth Form students are concerned. In other words, our Sixth Form students are actively encouraged to seek support from staff whenever they require it.

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Getting organised ________

Being organised is a fundamental requirement of all of our Sixth Form students. This includes effective organisation of time and being organised in terms of having the right equipment for lessons. We encourage all of our students to take ownership of their own organisation. Depending on which subject they are studying this may include the following:

� Formulating their own work files and ensuring that all their class, revision and wider research notes are organised in a revision friendly fashion.

� Familiarising themselves with the specifications for each subject they are studying. This includes knowing how to access past exam papers and fully understanding the assessment objectives they are expected to meet in any given subject they are studying.

� Purchasing the correct textbooks, revision guides and other support material for the subjects they are studying.

� Ensuring they have the correct equipment for each lesson.

� Effective time management in and outside of school to ensure they are committing enough time to their studies.

� Formulating revision schedules and timetables.

We realise that for the majority of our Sixth Form students their time with us is a precursor for Higher Education and University study. To this end, it is important to us that we help our students develop their organisational skills now because in the near future they will be expected to take sole responsibility for organising all aspects of their lives; not just academically, but also in a practical capacity.

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A  le%er  is  sent  home  to  parents/carers  informing  them  of  our  concerns  regarding  a%endance  

A  formal  verbal  warning  is  issued  and  a  le%er  is  sent  home  no9fying  parents/carers  that  

a%endance  is  being  closely  monitored  and  must  quickly  improve  

A  formal  wri%en    warning  is  issued  and  an  appointment  is  made  with  parents  to  meet  with  

the  Head  of  Sixth  Form  .  

Our attendance policy _____________

Attendance is monitored very carefully in the Sixth Form. Of course, there are occasions where students have legitimate reasons for being absent and we will do everything in our power to ensure students who experience unavoidable absence are fully supported to catch up on any work missed. There are occasions where Sixth Form students are permitted to go off site or are allowed to work from home if they do not have a timetabled lesson. However, to ensure students do not abuse this privilege, we monitor their attendance very closely. If a student’s attendance does become an issue then the following attendance policy is followed:

For those students who are intending to go to University, they may find that they will only have to attend, for example, twelve hours of lectures/seminars during any given week in their first year of degree study. During their time in Woodrush Sixth Form, we want to help prepare our Sixth Form students for this eventuality by encouraging them to be self-disciplined where attendance is concerned. However, we also realise that some students find it difficult adapting to a smaller timetable (typically, every student will need to attend 16 hours of lessons in Year 12), so we also ensure that each student’s attendance is monitored very closely.

Below  96%

Below  94%

Below  92%

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Sixth Form Induction Programme _____________

This year saw the launch of our new Sixth Form Induction Programme. Over the first eight days of term students attended a series of workshops designed to help and support them with the difficult transition from GCSE to A-level/BTEC study. Students attended workshops focused on developing some of the core skills required for Level 3 study. Some of these sessions were also aimed at helping students with their subject choices and also to encourage them to get to know our Year 13 students. The Sixth Form Induction Programme included workshops/events pertaining to the following:

� Study skills and revision strategies

� Post Sixth Form research

� Student interviews with learning co-ordinators

� Developing and improving essay writing skills

� Research methods

� Referencing

� The Sciences at Key Stage 5

� Mathematical application in Physics

� An outline of enrichment opportunities offered in the Sixth Form

� Independent Study

� Practical application and time management (Art, Music, Textiles and Product Design)

� ICT skills

� Studying BTECs

� Subject choice consultation with Year 13

� Guest speakers

� Team building quiz

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Enrichment opportunities _____________

The main priority for all of our students is their studies. However, in Woodrush Sixth Form we offer an extensive range of enrichment opportunities that we encourage students to become involved with. These include:

� Being a member of the Sixth Form student committee

� Gaining an extra qualification in AS General Studies, the Extended Project Qualification or the Sports Leadership Award

� Completion of the Duke of Edinburgh Gold Award

� Numerous fundraising and charity events

� Completing work experience linked to possible career pathways

� Literacy and numeracy mentors to students lower down the school

� Mentoring gifted and talented students in Year 11

� Being part of the editorial team for ‘The Sixth’ newsletter

� Attending social events like theatre trips and the end of year Sixth Form celebration

� Numerous trips and residentials (last year alone some of our Sixth Formers went on trips to New York, Poland, the Houses of Parliament, the Clothes Show and the Gadget Show, to name but a few)

All of these enrichment opportunities (and many more) have been put in place to not only support the personal development of all of our Sixth Form students, but also to ensure that when filling in University or employment applications our students have a whole host of experiences that they can refer to. We realise that the competition for University places and jobs is greater than it has ever been. Our aim is to equip our students with an array of experiences that will help to give them the ‘edge’ over the competition, whether they are applying for University, a Higher Apprenticeship or full-time employment.

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Continuing into Year 13 _____________

Our policy is that students study four subjects in Year 12. In exceptional circumstances, we will allow some students to study just three subjects in Year 12. However, the reason why we insist upon four subjects being studied in Year 12 is so students have the option to drop one of these subjects as they enter Year 13. There are some instances where students decide to continue with four subjects in Year 13, but this is only permitted after consultation with the Head of Sixth Form.

It is important to note that students have to pass at least three subjects to be offered the opportunity to continue their studies into Year 13. In the case of A-levels, this means that they must pass at least three subjects with an ‘E’ grade. In the case of BTECs, they must be estimated to ‘pass’ the subject to continue studying said subject in Year 13. Please refer to our prospectus for confirmation of the individual grade requirements for Year 13 study.

If a student does not pass three of their subjects in Year 12 we will fully support them to either resit subjects in Year 12 that better suit their aptitudes or provide them with advice and support in searching for an alternative to sixth form study.

We must stress that every effort is made by staff to ensure that our students do pass all of their subjects in Year 12. We monitor students’ progress very closely and if we feel a student is in danger of not passing any of their subjects then measures are taken to further support the student. These include:

- Regular consultation with parents

- One hour of study support offered each week by the Head of Sixth Form

- Sixth Form Head of House interviews

- Close monitoring of student performance in class

- Close monitoring of student’s work to ensure every effort is being made to improve (this includes monitoring class notes, independent study, consolidation work and exam revision)

- Individual subjects also adopt their own intervention strategies. This can take the form of setting students additional work, conducting interviews with students, contacting parents (etc)

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Life after the Sixth Form _____________

As mentioned, we offer students extensive support in making the right decision about their destination after the Sixth Form, whether their chosen destination is university, a Higher Apprenticeship, employment or a gap year. Over the duration of their time in the Sixth Form, students are advised about all of these options.

University:

The majority of our students do decide to embark upon a degree course at University when they leave the Sixth Form. We pride ourselves on ensuring that all of our students secure places on their desired courses at their preferred universities. We also encourage parents to support students in making the right decision about which degree they want to study and at which university. An important website for students and parents to visit is www.ucas.com. The UCAS website lists all of the courses that are available at university and publishes their entry requirements and details about each course. In addition to this, the website also offers advice on how to apply to university and covers any other areas of concern, such as student finance.

Higher Apprenticeships:

Higher Apprenticeships are becoming an increasingly popular option for students after they have finished their level 3 qualifications in the Sixth Form. Here are some key facts about Higher Apprenticeships:

- They are a Level 4 or above qualification. In other words, they are a natural progression from Level 3 A-level or BTEC qualifications. - They involve working alongside experienced staff to gain job specific skills whilst simultaneously receiving training towards a nationally recognised qualification. - This training is usually received on a day release basis. - Higher Apprenticeships can take between 1 and 4 years to complete (18 months is average). - The minimum wage is £2.65 per hour, but many apprentices earn significantly more. For more information about Higher Apprenticeships, and for a full listing of vacancies, please visit www.apprenticeships.org.uk. Employment: We also support students seeking employment opportunities and offer in house careers advice. Gap Year: We invite organisations like Project Trust into the Sixth Form to inform students about opportunities to work abroad in a voluntary capacity.

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Sixth Form Success 2012-2013 _____________

We have just enjoyed our most successful year of results in the Sixth Form. 100% of all of our students passed their A-level subjects and nearly half of the grades achieved were between A* and B. Some results worthy of note include:

Jack C: English Language and Literature: A*, History: A, Maths: A, Psychology: B

Cameron: Biology: A, Chemistry: A, Maths: A

Jack M: History: A, English Literature: B, Art: B

Shyam: Psychology: A, Chemistry: B, Biology: B

Laura H: English Language and Literature: A, Biology: A, Chemistry: B, Psychology: B

Jack W: BTEC Science: Distinction*, BTEC Sport: Distinction, ICT: Merit

Where some of last year’s Sixth Form graduates are heading:

• Medicine at the University of Newcastle • Accountancy and Financial Management at Loughborough University • Chemistry at the University of Birmingham • Biochemistry at Warwick • Physical Geography at Worcester University • Science with Education at Sheffield Hallam University • Creative and Professional Writing at Nottingham Trent University • Biomedical Sciences at Cardiff University • Criminology and Forensic Biology at the University of Chester • Primary Education at Newman College • Psychology at the University of Winchester • Spanish and English at Coventry University

We are extremely proud of these students and their successes, but we want to focus on building on these achievements in the future.

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Finally  .  .  .

The next two years are going to be incredibly challenging for our new Year 12 cohort. As mentioned, A-level and level 3 BTEC study are both significantly more difficult than GCSEs and will require a lot more work from our students. The following guidelines are a summary of how Sixth Form students can achieve success in their A-level/BTEC studies:

� Make sure you purchase all the equipment and text books you need for the courses you are studying.

� Make sure you have the right equipment and text books with you for the lessons they are needed in.

� Adopt an organised and conscientious approach to your studies. � Ensure you are focused in every lesson and make sure you ask your teacher if there is

anything you are uncertain about. � Complete all Independent Study on time and to the best of your ability. � Consolidate your understanding of the work covered in class through extra reading,

research and on-going revision. � Do not leave revision until a few weeks before your Summer exams. You must be

revising/consolidating the whole year round. � Use your time inside and outside of school productively. Prioritise your studies over

everything else. Having said this, do make sure you maintain a work/life balance otherwise you run the risk of becoming stressed or overwhelmed by your studies.

� Have outstanding attendance and make sure you are punctual to all of your lessons and to registration.

� Seek guidance and support from your subject teachers, your form tutors, Miss Ashman, Mr Cooper and Mr Sullivan. The staff at this school are ready to offer you all the support you need. Please take full advantage of this!

� Aim to involve yourself in all aspects of Sixth Form life. Not only will this result in you enjoying the next two years with us, but it will also give you experiences to highlight on University and employment applications.

As a parent, it is useful to refer to this criterion from time to time so that you can gauge whether your son/daughter is working hard and doing everything they can to maximise their chances of success.

In terms of workload, you can expect your son/daughter to typically have 2-3 hours of work to complete most evenings with an additional few hours of work to complete on the weekend. This work will include independent study, research, wider reading and consolidation work in the form of reviewing class notes or reformatting class notes into mind maps, cue cards or any number of other revision friendly formats. As they approach their summer exams they should have formulated a revision timetable and you should expect to see them working more hours at home. When students are consolidating their understanding of the work covered in class it will be done independently and

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they will need to be self-disciplined in completing this work. The students who consolidate and complete additional work on top of that set by their teachers are the students who, historically, leave the Sixth Form having fully realised their full potential across all of their subjects.

If, at any point, you are concerned that your son/daughter is either not working hard enough in their studies or requires additional support, please do not hesitate to contact us. We realise the importance of working in partnership with parents to support your child through this challenging stage in their academic life.

Woodrush High School has a fast improving Sixth Form that is growing in size and is enjoying more success than ever before. As mentioned, we are very pleased that your son/daughter has decided to continue their studies with us at this exciting time.

Should you have any questions or queries then please do not hesitate to contact either myself, Ms Ashman, Mr Cooper or any of our form tutors.

Thank you for taking the time to read through this document.

Kind regards

Mr M Sullivan – Head of Sixth Form

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